Recommended Resources
In Chapter 3, I explained that one of the things that makes the valley so challenging is people. When you become a manager, you're suddenly surrounded by countless relationships. Improving those relationships is crucial, but it's also beyond the scope of this book. So, as promised, here are a few of my favorite books that have had a positive impact on how I navigate relationships at work. (Note: these are in alphabetical order, not in order of priority.)
Difficult Conversations
By Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Shelia Heen
Digital Body Language
By Erica Dhawan
How to Win Friends and Influence People
By Dale Carnegie
How to Work with Complicated People
By Ryan Leak
Likeable Badass
By Allison Fragale
Made to Stick
By Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Books
Never Split the Difference
By Chris Voss
Supercommunicators
By Charles Duhigg
The Next Conversation
By Jefferson Fisher
The No Asshole Rule
By Robert I. Sutton
The Speed of Trust
By Stephen M. R. Covey
How to Lead Podcast Episodes
Clay and I often discuss how to improve relationships at work on our podcast, How to Lead. I’ve also provided a curated list of episodes on this topic. FogOfWork.com or the same QR code will also take you to a page with links to these episodes.
Play the Hand You're Dealt: How to Build a Great Relationship with Your Boss
The 3IQ System: A Simple Formula for Giving Tough Feedback That Actually Helps
Avoiding Miscommunication on Your Team
Why Your Boss Isn't Advocating for You
The Five Languages of Appreciation at Work (featuring Dr. Paul White)
Dealing with Big Reactions to Feedback
The Power of Nonverbal Communication (featuring Natalie Farr)
Conflict at Work: Common Mistakes (Part 3 of 3)
Conflict at Work: Starting Well (Part 2 of 3)
Conflict at Work: An Opportunity (Part 1 of 3)
How to Deal with Someone You Don't Like
How Listening Makes You More Influential